“It’s been a long time off,” Grove recently told MMAjunkie.com Radio (www.mmajunkie.com/radio). “I was meant to fight Zak actually earlier this year in May, but I had a bit of a hematoma on my leg, which is all fine right now. I had to pull out of the fight.

“I was quite disappointed I didn’t fight the guy. I know he’s been popular here in America for being a part of ‘The Ultimate Fighter.’ I’m glad that Bellator got a hold of him and I’m fighting him.”

After recovering from his minor injury, Grove expected to return to the cage shortly thereafter. He hoped, at least.

Instead, he ended up buried in the shadows of Bellator’s tournament-heavy business model for a period of time.

“There’s not always fights going,” Grove said. “Bellator’s been having some really exciting tournaments to take care of. I think when you’re the class of heavyweight I am, and I’m not boosting my ego here, it’s really hard to get you on the main card on live TV. I’ve had to wait for an opening, and this is it.”

Opening received and accepted. The agreement to face Jensen was a no-brainer. Of course, an agreement to face just about anybody was a no-brainer when your short-term goals encompass cage time, earning income and potentially securing a spot in a future heavyweight tournament that has yet to come to fruition.

“It’s about fighting,” Grove said. “I like fighting. I like keeping fans watching. And, it’s always about the money. If you stay out of the game longer than nine or 10 months, then you might as well hang your gloves.

“When you have such a big break, you get hungry. I’m so hungry I can take on two heavyweights at the moment.”

The ultimate endgame remains to obtain a belt here in the U.S. Grove, a South African who fights out of England, intends to fight three to four more years to ensure he has plenty of time to chase the hardware.

He missed out on his first opportunity by losing via submission to Cole Konrad in the finals of Bellator’s 2010 heavyweight tournament. He came close, but not quite close enough. Now he must work his way back.

“I have worn a belt before in the UK,” Grove said. “It’s a different story fighting in America. The sport is so much bigger over here. The support is so much better over here. The training is so much better over here.

“To be fighting for a company that is now seen as the second biggest event in America – you can probably say the world – (and) to wear their brass would be an achievement for me.”

MMAjunkie.com Radio broadcasts Monday-Friday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) live from the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino’s Race & Sports Book. The show is hosted by Gorgeous George, MMAjunkie.com lead staff reporter John Morgan and producer Goze. For more information or to download past episodes, go to www.mmajunkie.com/radio.

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